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Like Maxima, she was created as a middle-aged female to contrast the multiple teenage characters in the roster. Especially the female characters who were mostly teenagers. Because of this, the developers created the concept of a woman in her thirties who broke all the rules and overflowed with adult appeal. Developers also mention their intentions to make her playable in The King of Fighters '99 though this didn't happen due to time constraints. [1] Since Seth was created before Vanessa her clothes were designed to match his. [2]

She is a normal housewife who discreetly serves as a mercenary agent. Working under the orders of commander Ling, Vanessa and fellow agent Seth are commissioned with the job of joining the King of Fighters tournament, held by Ling himself. They are to follow the footsteps of the NESTS cartel, which Ling and his agency persecuted. The two agents part from one another with Vanessa recruiting prime suspects, K' and Maxima, as her teammates. She also scouts the talents of Mexican wrestler Ramon to complete their team. Her objective from then on is to observe the activities of the NESTS defectors based on Ling's orders.

She becomes a free agent after Ling's defeat — who was impersonated by Zero — often teaming up with Ramon and Seth. In The King of Fighters XI, she reveals herself to be an old acquaintance of Blue Mary's past lover, Butch. Together with her and Ramon, Vanessa enters the tournament under orders to receive information concerning the broken Orochi seal and the mysterious members of Those from the Past.